All Blog Posts

Member blogs include thematic articles of 600-800 words on books or research by members, or human interest stories by members. To submit a thematic blog write to the relevant TG chair; for human interest blogs write to 1818society@wbgalumni.org, with “Blog Proposal” in the subject line.

Title Author Publication Date Content Details
For the Blessings of Jupiter and Venus – A Debut Novel Varun Gauri Jul 26, 2024 Even as a researcher in DEC, I’ve always been interested in stories. My early critique of the market-based Chilean social programs of the 1980s focused on dissonant narratives among various... Read More
Driving Digital Transformation in Developing Nations: Case Studies Nagy Hanna Jul 11, 2024 The digital revolution is creating unprecedented opportunities and challenges for economic development. How did countries respond? What roles did the governments, enterprises and civil societies play in energizing and governing... Read More
A Trip to Remember Katia Tabash Jun 27, 2024 Sitting at the finish line of a small 2,000-meter lake-turned-racecourse in Lucerne, Switzerland, my husband and I waited to watch our son Christian – hopefully – qualify for the Olympics... Read More
Turkey’s Economic Odyssey Since 2000 Tanju Yurukoglu Jun 19, 2024 In October 2023, I published a book entitled Turkey's Economic Odyssey Since 2000: From Ascent to Turmoil  [1]  reviewing economic policies and performance in Turkey since 2000. The book was... Read More
Economic Development in the Digital Age Nagy Hanna Jun 11, 2024 How did the World Bank respond to the digital revolution in terms of policies and investments in developing countries? Much has been published on the digital revolution as it is... Read More
The American economy itself feels fine, but voters feel differently Istvan Dobozi May 27, 2024 The strength of the economy is a time-honored predictor of presidential job approval and re-election chances. In the post-WWII period, only three presidents – Jimmy Carter, Herbert H.W. Bush and... Read More
Chile under Neoliberalism Andrés Solimano & Gabriela Zapata-Román Apr 16, 2024 In our book, Chilean Economic Development under Neoliberalism, we examine Chile's economic, social, and development policies over the past six decades. The focal point is the enduring influence of the neoliberal... Read More
Discovering Birds with Better Technology S, Ramachandran Mar 17, 2024 Birding was not on my post-retirement “to do” list.  Stumbling into it just when technology made it easier was fortuitous because it will continue to engage my waning faculties as... Read More
Ashoka the Visionary Ashok Khanna Mar 1, 2024 In an era of great economic advances, fantastic improvements in education and global communications, humanity is still plagued by war, genocide, and corruption.  Visionary and ethical governance has been stunningly... Read More
Vinod Prakash, Service Before Self: A Journey of Conviction, Courage, and Commitment Uma Lele Feb 23, 2024 It is a pleasure to write this blog about a book written by a colleague, Vinod Prakash, who retired from the World Bank in 1988 after more than two decades... Read More
The Bank’s Ambitious Gender Strategy Frank Vogl Feb 1, 2024 The World Bank is on the cusp of finalizing a 2024-2030 gender development strategy. It draws on the experiences of the last decade where, for example, the number of Bank... Read More
If You Came This Way James Brown Feb 1, 2024 My interview at the Bank in the winter of 1970-71 began with the YP Coordinator saying, “Canadian, huh. That won’t hurt you.” I was hired, so I guess he was... Read More
Chile’s experience transitioning from an energy supply crisis to major investments in renewables Miguel Schloss Jan 18, 2024 There are times when crises can provide a sober warning about unaddressed problems than all discourses and learned studies. The crisis detonated almost 15 years ago by the gas supply... Read More
Tackling Climate Change: The Bank’s Poisoned Chalice? S. Ramachandran Jan 12, 2024 After much wrangling at periodic gatherings in Rio, Copenhagen and Paris, governments have agreed to reduce emissions that cause global warming. Many emissions deplete the stratosphere’s protective ozone layer affecting... Read More
Stories from My 14 Years at the World Bank (1979-1993)* Nancy Birdsall Jan 11, 2024 I was inspired by the November 29 CGD event on women’s leadership at the international financial institutions (IFIs), featuring a presentation of the results of this data-based study by CGD... Read More
Changes in Bank Retirees’ Longevity Anis Dani & Brenda Bermudez Dec 13, 2023 Two years ago, Bill McGreevy had analyzed mortality data of WBG retirees for an article in the Quarterly. After a gap of two years, we decided to analyze data on... Read More
Are days of dollar dominance numbered in global commerce and finance? Istvan Dobozi Dec 10, 2023 Historically, there were two national currencies – the British pound and the Dutch gulden – that played an important role as world reserve currencies and money of world commerce. But... Read More
Rosalynn Carter’s Invitation to Me to Work for President Carter on the Global Development Initiative Uma Lele Dec 7, 2023 Rosalynn Carter, the past first lady of the United States, who passed away on November 19, 2023, invited me to work with President Carter. After the Berlin Wall came down,... Read More
Business Jargon: A Trip Down Memory Lane Joseph Barone Nov 1, 2023 Business Jargon “are words or phrases used by business employees to convey unique ideas and directions.”[1] The World Bank, like every other organization, no matter the size or industry, was... Read More
Secret Tuscany (an 1818 Society tour) Marisa Diaz-Etchevehere Nov 1, 2023 Although I have been to Tuscany in Italy several times in the past, when I saw a tour called “Secret Tuscany” advertised in an e-mail from the 1818 Society, I... Read More